UPDATE: Adidas puts executive in hoops probe on leave

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Apparel company Adidas has placed an executive on leave after his arrest in a fraud investigation of college basketball.

The sneaker and sportwear giant said Wednesday that it has hired an outside lawyer to conduct a corporate investigation and intends to cooperate with authorities.

James Gatto, the company’s director of global sports marketing for basketball, is accused of working with coaches at Louisville and Miami to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to players to get them to commit to the schools.

Authorities say they have records of two phone conversations between Gatto and a Louisville coach days before Brian Bowen committed to playing for the school. Prosecutors say Bowen and his family received $100,000 from Adidas to play for Louisville.